Chapter 11 - The Counter-Offer
Conrad didn't flinch. He kept his hands relaxed at his sides, entirely aware of every shadow along the rusted warehouse roof. “The folder was just the receipt, Richter. I know about the master liquidity pool anchored in the Swiss clearinghouse. And I know your syndicate is bleeding capital trying to cover the fallout from the federal asset freezes.”
Richter’s polite smile faltered for a fraction of a second. The chilling precision in Conrad’s voice caught him off guard.
“You think you can fight an institution that operates above governments?” Richter asked, his tone dropping its polite facade, turning sharp and metallic. “We don’t need to break into your house, Mr. Vance. We can simply turn off the oxygen to every corporate partner, supplier, and bank that touches your name. Within forty-eight hours, you’ll be bankrupt, legally erased, and begging us for a trial.”
“Try it,” Conrad said quietly.
Before Richter could react, a sharp electronic beep echoed from the dashboard of the Mercedes parked nearby. The interior screens flashed amber, displaying a series of rapid, automated data overrides.
May you like
Richter whipped his head around toward his vehicle. “What is that?”
“That,” Conrad said, stepping even closer, “is Marcus executing a remote protocol on your primary Zurich server. While you were driving out here to play the intimidating courier, your master ledger just got mirrored and uploaded to the federal oversight committee and every major financial watchdog in Europe.”
